The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-28
CONSULS' REPORTS.

The Wool of the Argentine Republic-Wsges
of Operatives in English Mills.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-Consul Baker. in a
report to the Department of State in regard to
the wool production of the Argentine Republic,
says that the amount of fine woods shipped from
there to the United States annually is becoming
less. The cause of this, he says, is in great part
due to the fact that tine United States tariff, I'M
Intentionally, but very unjusIy, discriminates
against such woods from the Argentine Republic
in favor Of those from Australia. New Zealand,
etc; our system of computing the duties making
no allowance whatever for the fact that the dirt
and grease the woods of the Argentine Re-
public is fully 20 per cent greater than those of
the former countries; this excess Of dirt and
grease being required to pay the full tariff rates
for wool. The only woods from the Argentine
Republic which it is now possible to ship under
our tariff are the "criolta." long carpet woods
Of the province of Cordoba, which are shipped
from Rosario, and which amount to 10, DOC, 900
pounds annually.
Consul j. Schoenhof, at Tunstall, England. in
his report to the Department of State upon the
economic conditions of Ireland, treats upon the
linen, hosiery and lace manufactures of that
country. He finds that the earnings of the peo-
ple EMPLOYED in the linen mills il Ulster are far
below those of any classes employed in the tex
tile branches in England. Mill regulations and
working time, of course, the same for the
whole kingdom. Flax breakers. men who have
to do very exhaustlDg work. earn from los to 20s
per week; hackers. from 18s to 23s; spnners
and girls. from IS to los; halftimers, boys, 5s;
girls As. and weavers (Inostly womenl, tending
TWO looms, from Us to los. Damask weavers,
however. tina Consul says, a few more
shillings per week. In this connection, the Con-
sui reports that the linen trade suffers from de-
preston. This is partly due to the fact that
not so much linen is used, owing to the great
case in former times, and partly, also.
because the use of brown linen for ladies'
dresses has ceased through change of
association. principally through great reaction
following immense expansions in the wake of
the American war and the cotton famine conse-
the Consul notes the following wages For men,
from 12s to las. The latter figure is about the
limit of best men. Spinner girls, So to los;
children, 5s to 6s, and weavers, from los to rs.
A mill employing about $50 hands pays out
about G400 per week in wages. The Consul says
that with the advantages Of cheap labor and
great eagerness for finding opportunities to
work all over Ireland, with an intelligent popu-
lati on, quick to take up and learn all mapipula-
tons to which they set, and with the excellent
gu atty of the wool which the Irish sheep pro-
duces, one should expect to find quite flourish
ing industry there. But there are no more than
half dozen prosperous mills in ali Ireland, en-
q great many mills closed for want of orders.
With reference to hosiery manufacture the Con-
sui states that girls and embroldererS earn from
as to SIS Der weak-a neat and nice employment.
1t is difficult, however, to keep them at home
when they have become practical and are we'll
trained to the work, as they very quick at
leaving and going where they can earn 12s per
week.